Geelani vows to resist settlement of retired soldiers in Kashmir

Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Geelani today denounced the New Delhi’s plan to settle retired non-Kashmiri army personnel in Kashmir, vowing to resist the move vehemently.

“Jammu Kashmir is a disputed territory and any such attempt would have dire consequences,” Geelani said while addressing a meeting of Hurriyat Majlis Shoora (advisory council) members today at its Hyderpora head office here.

The meeting was attended by the heads or representatives of all Hurriyat (G) constituents.

“The issues like plans of allotting land to former army personnel of India in Kashmir and harassment of Muslims in entire Jammu region including Pir Panjal and Chenab Valley regions at the hands of communal forces were thoroughly discussed in the meeting. Deliberations were also held over the future strategy in this regard,” Hurriyat (G) spokesman in a statement today said, rejecting the plans of the Indian government to settle the retired Indian army personnel or their children in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Jammu Kashmir is an internationally accepted disputed territory and the decision for its future is still pending. So the settling or allotting of land to any army personnel or any citizen of India is clear violation of international rules. Besides, it has no constitutional or moral justification,” the spokesman quoted Geelani as saying at the meeting.

Terming the attitude of Mufti government on the issue as ambiguous and doubtful, Geelani said, “The Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had although said while responding to a question in Rajya Sabha that he had sent directions to the state government in Srinagar on 16 July for taking appropriate action in the allotment of state land to the army personnel but neither Mufti Muhammad Sayeed nor any of his ministers has refuted or supported it. Nor has the stand of government on this sensitive issue come to fore.”

Geelani cautioned that the allotment of the land to the retired Indian army personnel in Jammu and Kashmir would be a ‘direct attack’ on the special status of the state and the Hurriyat (G) would oppose the move tooth and nail in every possible way.

Taking strong notice of the harassment of Muslim population of the Pir Panjal, Chenab Valley regions at the hands of communal parties,  Geelani announced that “the Muslims of the Jammu region will not be left at the mercy of Bajrangi people and a joint movement will be initiated in this regard along with all the pro-freedom people and also those related to different walks of life.”